Product Details

• Actors: Michael Cardelle, Frank Mentier, Jaimyse Haft, Jack Carlisle, Bart Voitila
• Directors: David DeCoteau
• Writers: Simon Savory
• Producers: David DeCoteau, John Schouweiler, Paul Colichman, Stephen P. Jarchow
• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: E1 Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: May 4, 2010
• Run Time: 83 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0037FFC30
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,000 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Edgar Allan Poe's: House of Usher" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Many Arrive. Few Survive... A Haunting Adaptation of the Edgar Allan Poe Classic by Director David DeCoteau

When Victor Reynolds (Michael Cardelle) visits his first love Roderick Usher (Frank Mentier) at his crumbling family estate, he finds Roderick and his sister Madeline (Jaimyse Haft) decaying before his eyes. Tempted by the seductive charms of the Usher siblings, as well as the house itself, Victor learns the terrifying secret that’s been keeping them both alive.

Product Description

When Victor visits his first love Roderick Usher at his crumbling family estate, he finds Roderick and his sister decaying before his eyes. Soon Victor learns the terrifying secret that’s been keeping them alive. Directed by David DeCouteau.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This one is very good., May 5, 2010

By 

Gregory Holmes "DeCoteau Fan" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Edgar Allan Poe's: House of Usher (DVD)

Of the three DeCoteau Poe films released on DVD, this one is by far the most faithful to the origninal story. The script by Simon Savory is quite ingenious in its updating of Poe. The three central characters Roderick (Frank Mentier), Madeline (Jaimyse Haft) and Victor (Michael Cardelle) retain the same charcteristics they had in the origninal story. Victor goes to visit his chum (former lover in this version) Roderick at the family estate and finds that the Usher parents have died leaving the house to Roderick and his sister Madeline. The siblings have become quite unhinged with Roderick suffering from an overly acute perception and Madeline enduring fits of catalepsy. Roderick is in a state of depression and never ventures from the family mansion and is unable to go out into the light of day because of his sensitivity to light. Roderick has also taken up photography as a hobby and is fond of photographing painters, plumbers and gardners. Then things get weird . . .

David DeCoteau once again gives us a film of stunning beauty. It is photographed by frequent DeCoteau cinematographer Howard Wexler and Danny Draven is back as the editor for this one. Every shot is a stunner. There are many candle lit scenes that contribute to the gothic atmosphere. Every window is penetrated by deep blue light, exactly replicating the look of the bedroom sequences in Kubrick's EYES WIDE SHUT. The film also benefits from a fine score by legendary Harry Manfredini. The cast is attractive and they deliver their lines as if in a trance state and this fits the curious dialogue they are given. The film is a peculiar blend of modern and gothic elements and it all works beautifully. I don't know if I prefer this one over THE PIT AND THE PENDULEM, a film which reached new heights of erotic frenzy. This film is more subdued in tone and a bit more intellectual than Dave's versions of PIT and RAVEN. David DeCoteau is still at the top of his game and doing great work and this film gives ample evidence of his tremendous talent as a film maker. I loved every minute of it!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Sex, Lies, and Men's Underwear, July 8, 2010

By 

F. masiello "dustydog" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Edgar Allan Poe's: House of Usher (DVD)

This movie is a letdown in many ways, but some may find it amusing. The story updates Poe's classic short story, which is fine enough to do, but the result is flat. The dialog is leaden, the acting wooden. Overall the emoting is high school thespian club caliber. The lead actor, Michael Cardelle, is certainly a beauty but he seems more suited to be starring in an underwear catalog. Others have commented on how the house and the Usher siblings look like they are deteriorating, but you may disagree. Roderick Usher (Frank Mentier) looks rather healthy and only talks of his sensitivity to light (hence the fashionable dark glasses). His interest in photographing the hired help shirtless and then they seem to become ghosts is an odd twist, especially since the ghosts in various shades of tight boxer briefs don't seem to be able to touch the living, but merely do some sort of hand and mouth hovering, inches away from Victor's luscious torso. Friend/lover Victor calls Usher, "Ush" but considering the absolutely awesome bulge in Roderick's tight black briefs, "Rod" may have been a better nickname. The actress playing Madeline (Jaimyse Haft), looks unhinged, mentally over the top, but not physically ill--unless you don't like Shelly Duvall types. She seems to be wearing the gooiest, stickiest lip-gloss, but the kissing scenes are mainly between the two male leads anyway. As for the house, no attempt is made to make it look like a face, as in Poe's story. It looks like a very nice mansion. The only sign of "deterioration" is that at one point two planks of wood and a piece of plaster suddenly fall onto the floor (evidently from above, but we are not shown even where). The rest of the place is bright, spanking new. Even the outdoor sculptures look pristine, not weather beaten at all. The movie is shot on HD video, so there is only sharp focus, none of the lovely depth of field inherent in actual film and the so-called fall of the house is done with cheap CGI. There is, however, a surprise ending that is actually rather cool.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't Bother, May 8, 2010

By 

Kerry from DC "Kerry" (DC Metro Area) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Edgar Allan Poe's: House of Usher (DVD)

A bit disturbing...not the story...the directing and most acting. I thought the cast was very easy on the eyes (hence the two stars and not just one) but the story was distracting and was written like a 70's porno (all you need is a theme and a title) but without the sex. I would recommend you pass on this one.